Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fatigue01:21

Fatigue

856
Fatigue occurs when materials rupture under repeated or fluctuating loads, even at stress levels far below their static breaking strength. It typically results in brittle failure, even for ductile materials. It is a critical consideration in designing machines and structural components subjected to repetitive or varying loads. The nature of these loadings can range from fluctuating loads like unbalanced pump impellers causing vibrations to repeatedly bending a thin steel rod wire back and forth...
856
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

955
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
955
Muscle Recovery and Fatigue01:24

Muscle Recovery and Fatigue

4.2K
Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective...
4.2K
Fatigue Strength of Concrete01:22

Fatigue Strength of Concrete

571
Fatigue, in the context of materials science and engineering, refers to the weakening or failure of a material caused by repeatedly applied loads, even if these loads are below the strength limit of the material. Fatigue strength in concrete is a critical property that influences its durability and longevity. Concrete can fail in two ways due to fatigue. Static fatigue or creep rupture occurs under a constant load or one that increases slowly. The other failure mode is due to cyclical or...
571
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

3.9K
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
3.9K
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

2.1K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
2.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

From physiological workload to motivation during a prolonged trail run: the mediating role of affective valence and arousal.

Frontiers in sports and active living·2026
Same author

Better together - efficacy of combined physical and cognitive training in young adults for enhancing physical and cognitive performance: a randomized controlled trial.

Frontiers in sports and active living·2026
Same author

Brain resting state functional connectivity changes with aerobic exercise, and mindfulness: A narrative review.

Sports medicine and health science·2026
Same author

Exploring the perceptions, barriers, and enablers of physical activity for people with younger onset dementia and care partners through thematic analysis.

Disability and rehabilitation·2026
Same author

A randomised controlled trial of physical activity and cognitive training in older adults: the PhABHeaD study.

Trials·2026
Same author

Frequency of a very brief intervention to increase physical activity levels in cardiac rehabilitation attendees: The 'Measure It!' Multicentre randomised trial.

International journal of cardiology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster
09:49

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: March 26, 2012

16.2K

Mental Fatigue Impairs Endurance Performance: A Physiological Explanation.

Kristy Martin1, Romain Meeusen2, Kevin G Thompson3,4

  • 1University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Canberra, ACT, Australia. kristy.martin@canberra.edu.au.

Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|June 21, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Mental fatigue, caused by demanding cognitive tasks, impairs endurance performance by increasing perceived effort, not physiological factors. This review explores the role of cerebral adenosine in this effect.

More Related Videos

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
07:26

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans

Published on: October 17, 2018

21.4K
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

12.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster
09:49

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: March 26, 2012

16.2K
Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
07:26

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans

Published on: October 17, 2018

21.4K
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

12.8K

Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Mental fatigue, a psychobiological state from prolonged cognitive activity, impairs cognitive and endurance performance.
  • The mechanisms linking mental fatigue to reduced endurance are unclear, as traditional physiological limiters remain unaffected.
  • Perception of effort is hypothesized as the primary mediator of mental fatigue's negative impact on endurance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and extend the hypothesis that cerebral adenosine accumulation contributes to increased perception of effort and impaired endurance performance in mental fatigue.
  • To explore the neurobiological underpinnings of mental fatigue's influence on physical exertion.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical review of existing literature.
  • Examination of evidence supporting the role of cerebral adenosine in mediating perception of effort.
  • Analysis of studies on cognitive load, mental fatigue, and subsequent endurance performance.

Main Results:

  • Mental fatigue does not alter key physiological markers of endurance (heart rate, lactate, neuromuscular function).
  • Increased perception of effort is consistently reported in mentally fatigued states.
  • Evidence suggests prolonged cognitive tasks may increase cerebral adenosine, potentially elevating perceived effort.

Conclusions:

  • Cerebral adenosine accumulation is a plausible mechanism for the increased perception of effort observed in mental fatigue.
  • This heightened perception of effort likely underlies the impairment of endurance performance.
  • Further research is warranted to directly investigate adenosine's role in mental fatigue and exercise.